Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Polar Gold Arborvitae is a fantastic option for someone looking to grow a privacy hedge, but not take up a lot of space (or your neighbor’s space). These shrubs grow upright and only get to be around 4 to 6 feet wide, but they grow up to 15 feet tall!
The new growth on the plants is a glowing yellow color that lasts all year, and turning dark green the next year. This beautiful foliage will surely stand out in any landscape. Plant these as a statement piece, privacy hedge, or wind block.
Polar Gold arborvitae are native to North America and require very little care once established. The Polar Gold gets its name due to the fact that it can thrive in very harsh winters, even in cold hardy zone 3.
Polar Gold Arborvitae Care
Plant these shrubs in moist well-drained soil that gets at least 5 hours of sunlight a day.
Pruning Polar Gold Arborvitae is not necessary, as these shrubs naturally grow into a narrow dense pyramid shape. If you must trim, do so in late spring or early summer, after the new growth has emerged. Do not cut off thick branches, as you could leave an unsightly hole and permanently damage the shrub’s shape.
Polar Gold Arborvitae Spacing
If you plan on growing these into a privacy hedge, space these bushes 4 feet apart, center on center. Otherwise, plant at least 6 feet apart, center on center, for a typical growth habit.
Thuja occidentalis 'SMTOYB' Plant Facts
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7 |
| Foliage Color(s): Yellow |
| Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun |
| Mature Height: 12-15 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 4-6 Feet |
| Mature Spacing: 4-6 Feet |
| Habit: Upright |
| Watering: Average |
| Shrub Type: Evergreen |
| Uses: Border Plant, Container, Good for Screening, Landscape, Mass Planting, Specimen or Focal Point |
| Scientific Name: Thuja occidentalis ''SMTOYB'' USPP 25,388 |
| Common Name: Polar Gold Arborvitae |
| Brand: Proven Winners ColorChoice® |
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | March 31th |
| Zone 9 | March 31st |
| Zone 8 | April 7th |
| Zone 7 | April 14th |
| Zone 6b | April 21st |
| Zone 6a | April 28th |
| Zone 5b | May 5th |
| Zone 5a | May 12th |
| Zone 4 | May 19th |
| Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!